Vehicle-wheel.



No. 686,082. Pate nted Nov. 5, IQUL J. H." JUDGE.

' VEHICLE WHEEL' (Application filed Mar. 6; 1901-) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

J; H. JUDGE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Patented Nov. 5, I901.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1901..

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 MndeL) UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIGE.

JOSEPH HENRY JUDGE, OF MILVAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,082, dated November5, 1901;

- Application filed March d, 1901. $erial No. 50,090. (No model.)

To aZZ 2071/0121, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HENRBZ JUDGE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Stateof 'Wisconsin, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in vehicle-wheels directedespecially to affording the best possible combination of radialelasticity and lateral rigidity. Subordinate to these main purposes area number of minor considerations having to do es pecially with thecompactness, strength, and convenience of the various parts and the easeof adjusting the tension of the wheel to the various requirements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevationof a wheel embodying myimprovements in their preferred form. Fig. 2 is a vertical section inthe line 2 2 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow. ticalsection in the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of the hub andcertain parts connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, partlybroken away, in the plane 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of thearrow 5. Fig. 6 is an oblique section in the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 lookingin the direction of the arrow 6. Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of themiddle pivotal struts of the pivoted spoke-0on necting frames, and Fig.8 is a perspective view of one of the clips to which ends of the spokesare attached.

Referring to the drawings, A is an ordinary the outer bicycle-hi1 a aare parallel bars preferably secured rigidly at their middle portions,respectively, to the opposite ends of the hub, Fig. 4.

B B B B are hollow struts threaded in pairs in the opposite ends of thebars and secured rigidly against displacement therein by means ofjam-nuts b. b represents other jam-nuts serving as washers to furnish asuitable bearing-surface in the plane of the ends of the hollow struts BB (J O C C are middle pivotal struts journaled in the hollow struts justreferred to and provided with non-circularends c c, preferably square.

Fig. 3 is a ver-' D D D D are a series of spoke-connecting frames, themiddle portions of the opposite sides of the frames D D being rigidlysecured together by the pivotal struts C C and the middle portions ofthe opposite sides of the frames D D being rigidly connected together bythe pivotal struts (1" C The free ends of these levers are rigidlyconnected in pairs by means of end struts E, preferably extendedlaterally near their end portions to receive spoke-nipples F, in whichthe inner ends of the spokes G are threaded. By this means the fourspoke-connecting frames are each made rigid as to its opposite sides,and provision is secured for an easy adjustment of the tension of thespokes by means of a screwdriver, which may be inserted in a slotfin theexposed end of the spoke-nipple.

H is the rim of the wheel, and I an elastic tire suitably securedthereto.

J represents a series of clips, preferably U- shaped, as shown in Fig.8, having their middle portions'j adapted to rest upon the outer surfaceof the rim and their end portions jj adapted to embrace the sides of therim. A perforation j is preferably provided with a central portion tosecure the clip against creeping on the rim, and perforations j j areprovided in the ends, in which are secured the spokes G by means of bentends 9 and heads 9. The spokes are crossed laterally between thespoke-connecting frames and the clips J, so as to obtain a more obliqueposition of the spokes with relation to the plane of the wheel, andthereby give said wheel greater lateral rigidity than could otherwise beobtained with the same width of hub.

By means of the pivoted spoke-connecting frames it should be noticedthat the wheel is capable of a diametrical contraction or compression inone direction and a correspond ing expansion in the direction of anotherdiameter, so that the elasticity of the rim is utilized to take up anyunpleasant jar or shock. The great rigidity of the spoke-connectingframes, due to their various members and the manner of connecting thesame, taken in connection with the crossing of the spokes, gives thewheel ample lateral rigidity, while at the same time giving it theutmost freedom of radial movement.

The great ease of adjustment of the spoke tension should be noticed, andthe same is of particular advantage in this class of Wheel, inasmuch asit enables the tension of the wheel to be adjusted to the weight of therider to give the greatest ease of movement in much the same way as theobject is sought for in the use of the ordinary pneumatic tire byincreasing or decreasing the air-pressure according to the weight of therider.

\Vhile the above description has been made as specific and complete aspossible for the purpose of fully disclosing the preferred form of theinvention, it is not my intention to limit the invention to saidpreferred form, as certain of the novel characteristics are independentof the exact details.

- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A wheelcomprising a hub, parallel bars secured rigidly to the opposite ends ofthe hub, each having its ends radiating therefrom in oppositedirections, a series of tubular struts rigidly securing together theouter ends of the opposite bars, pivotal struts pivoted in said tubularstruts, rigid spoke-connecting frames secured across their middleportions by said pivotal struts, and a series of laterally-crossedspokes arranged in pairs and connecting the free ends of saidspokeconnecting frames with the rim; substantially as described.

2. In a wheel, the combination with a suitable hub, rim and tire, of aseries of clips secured between the rim and the tire, a series of spokessecured at their outer ends to the clips, a series of spoke-connectingframes pivotally connected to the hub, between their ends, and a seriesof spoke-nipples mounted in the ends of the spoke-connecting frames andthreaded to the inner ends of the spokes; substantially as described.

3. In a Wheel, the combination with a hub, a rim, and a tire, of aseries of clips secured between the rim and the tire and having endportions extending inward upon opposite sides of the rim, and a seriesof spokes secured in-pairs to said clips at one end, connected to thehub at the other end and crossing laterally between their ends;substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Ohicago,in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, this 27th day of February, A. D. 1901.

JOSEPH HENRY JUDGE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. SHERVEY, S. BLIss.

